By Chisum                                               H.R. No. 44
         77R2515 MJS-D                           
                                 R E S O L U T I O N
 1-1           WHEREAS, The passing of John S. Coleman, Jr., of Wellington
 1-2     on September 7, 2000, at the age of 98, has brought a profound loss
 1-3     to the family and friends of this esteemed gentleman; and
 1-4           WHEREAS, Born in 1902, Mr. Coleman earned an associate's
 1-5     degree at North Texas Agriculture College and a bachelor's degree
 1-6     at Texas A&M University and received a second lieutenant's
 1-7     commission as a member of the U.S. Army Reserve; and
 1-8           WHEREAS, After six years as the county agricultural agent for
 1-9     Hartley County, he was called into military service as a captain in
1-10     1941 and sent overseas; stationed at Nichols Field near Manila in
1-11     the Philippines, Mr. Coleman was the commanding officer of the 27th
1-12     Materiel Squadron; and
1-13           WHEREAS, This intrepid officer served for four continuous
1-14     months on the front line in Bataan before American troops
1-15     surrendered to Japanese forces in 1942; Mr. Coleman was a survivor
1-16     of the infamous Bataan death march and a prisoner of war for more
1-17     than three years; the author of Bataan & Beyond, this brave soldier
1-18     returned to the United States in 1945 and retired from the U.S. Air
1-19     Force as a major in 1947; and
1-20           WHEREAS, A member of a Collingsworth County pioneer family,
1-21     Mr. Coleman contributed greatly to the community, serving as mayor
1-22     of  Wellington and as commander of the American Legion's King Post
1-23     No. 249 for two terms; in addition, he distinguished himself for 25
1-24     years as a member of the Wellington Housing Authority and as
 2-1     director of the chamber of commerce for 17 years, and was
 2-2     responsible for organizing the Collingsworth County Water Control
 2-3     District and the TV Translator Tower project; and
 2-4           WHEREAS, The last surviving member of the inaugural
 2-5     Wellington High School football team, Mr. Coleman was inducted into
 2-6     the Rocket House Wall of Fame in 1997; and
 2-7           WHEREAS, Although John S. Coleman, Jr., will be deeply
 2-8     missed, his bright spirit will live on in the hearts and minds of
 2-9     all those whose lives he touched, and it is most appropriate to
2-10     honor his memory at this time; now, therefore, be it
2-11           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas
2-12     Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of John S. Coleman, Jr.,
2-13     and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his
2-14     son and daughter-in-law, Spencer and Beatrice Coleman; to his
2-15     daughter and son-in-law, Lennie and Billy Mac Sims; to his
2-16     grandchildren, Kyle Scott Coleman, Richard McDowell, Randall
2-17     Coleman, Kellye Coleman, and Karey Coleman; to his
2-18     great-grandchildren; and to his numerous other relatives and
2-19     friends; and, be it further
2-20           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
2-21     prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas
2-22     House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of
2-23     John  S. Coleman, Jr.